FAO at Commission for Social Development dialogue: Social protection is critical but often absent buffer for rural populations

There is a need to invest more to transform rural areas and promote rural-urban linkages that benefit communities in rural villages and cities. Fiscal, wage and social protection policies are central elements of this effort,” said Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in New York, at the interactive dialogue with senior officials of the United Nations (UN) System organized on 13 February at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The dialogue was part of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57), which is taking place from 11 to 21 February 2019 under the priority theme of “Addressing inequalities and challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage and social protection policies.” 

The dialogue also facilitated an interactive discussion between Member States, senior officials of the UN entities, and relevant stakeholders to promote social inclusion for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this context, senior officials from the five Regional Commissions and other UN entities were invited to share current trends, lessons learned, good practices and other activities in addressing the rising inequalities common challenges to social inclusion.

Delivering a statement on behalf of FAO, Mucavi noted that social protection is an essential but often lacking safety net in preventing rural families and other vulnerable populations including women, youth, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples from falling into a downward spiral of poverty and exclusion. She informed that social protection programmes must be combined with productive policies for long-term results in overcoming poverty.

Convening annually in New York, the Commission for Social Development is the key United Nations body in charge of the follow up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action, which was agreed in 1995 to establish a new consensus to place people at the centre of sustainable development.

Relevant links

CSocD57 website

Statement by Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in New York